12 Day Budget Gorilla Safari
Murchison Falls · Kibale Forest · Queen Elizabeth · Bwindi Impenetrable
From $4,010 pp in a group of 4
12 days · Uganda
12-Day Primates and Wildlife Adventure (Group Tour)
- Murchison Falls
- Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
- Kibale Forest
- Queen Elizabeth
- Bwindi Impenetrable
- Lake Mburo
- The Equator
- Mabamba Swamp
This 12 Days Primates and Wildlife adventure will take you for an ultimate experience in Uganda, where you will be able to trek the mountain gorillas, the golden monkeys, and the chimpanzees in their habitats. This safari will also take you to Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, and Lake Mburo National Parks, where you will see the different mammal and bird species on game drives and boat cruises. It will also take you on an on-foot rhino tracking and Bigodi Wetland for a nature walk.
from$5,900pp
- 12days
- 1country
- 10travellers at most
In brief
What this safari is
Murchison Falls National Park opens with the Nile gorge and Ziwa rhino tracking on the Masindi road. Kibale National Park in Fort Portal is chimpanzee country, with Bigodi Wetlands for 138 bird species. Queen Elizabeth National Park adds the Kazinga Channel between Lakes George and Edward.
Before you go
Rhino tracking, chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey trekking, gorilla trekking, and the Lake Mburo nature walk with an armed ranger are on foot. Gorilla trekking is physically demanding and for travellers aged 15 and over. You may hire a porter at Bwindi headquarters.
Before you book
Quick facts
- Starts at
- Entebbe International Airport
- Length
- 12 days
- Group size
- Up to Priced per person sharing for a group of 10 people
Day by day
The itinerary
Each day shows where you spend it, with today's sunrise and sunset there.
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Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
Entebbe
Welcome to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa: Upon arrival, you shall be welcomed by our guide at Entebbe International Airport, from where you will transfer to your booked accommodation for the night.
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Day 2: Murchison Falls via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
After your early morning breakfast, you will be picked up by our guide and start your 4 to 5-hour journey to Murchison Falls National Park in Masindi in Western Uganda. You will have a first stop over at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Nakasongola, where you will have an hour of rhino tracking experience.
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Day 3: Game drive and Nile boat cruise
Murchison Falls
You'll have your breakfast very early in the morning, depart for an early morning game drive as early as 6 am, and head into the park and look out for viewing the different mammals such as elephants, lions, leopards, Rothschild's giraffes, buffaloes, and antelopes like Uganda kob, topi, eland, bushbucks.
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Day 4: Transfer to Kibale and Bigodi Wetlands
Kibale Forest
After your morning breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and start your journey to Kibale National Park in Fort Portal, in Western Uganda, through the tea plantations and rolling hills to reach Fort Portal town. While in Fort Portal, you will have an en-route lunch and continue your journey to Kibale National Park.
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Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking to Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth
You will wake up early in the morning for breakfast and then report at the park headquarters at Kanyankyu at 7:30 am for a briefing by the guides about the dos and don'ts while with the chimpanzees. You will then start a trek in search of the chimpanzees. Once you have spotted a group, you will spend one hour with them observing their different behaviors, and you will also spot other primates in the forest. After the chimpanzee tracking experience, you will be awarded a chimpanzee tracking certificate.
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Day 6: Queen Elizabeth game drive and Kazinga cruise
Queen Elizabeth
You'll have your breakfast very early in the morning, depart for an early morning game drive as early as 6 am to the rolling plains of Uganda's second largest National Park, and look out for lions, leopards, Jackson hartebeest, buffaloes, hippos, waterbucks, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, oribis, and elephants. For any birder, there are several birds to sight during the drive.
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Day 7: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Queen Elizabeth
After your morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park and transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
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Day 8: Golden monkeys to Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable
After your early morning breakfast, you will proceed to the visitor's center in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at Ntebeko, where you will be briefed about the dos and don'ts while with the golden monkeys. After the briefing, you will then head inside the forest to search for the golden monkeys. Once you have identified a group, you will be given one hour to spend with the monkeys watching their behavior. You will take as many pictures as you want.
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Day 9: Gorilla trekking and Batwa evening
Bwindi Impenetrable
You will wake up early in the morning for breakfast and then report to the park headquarters at 7:30 am for a briefing about the dos and don'ts while with the gorillas. Remember to carry your packed lunch and enough drinking water since you may stay in the forest up to the afternoon in search of these gentle giants in their natural environment. Gorilla trekking exercise is physically demanding but an exciting activity! You may need to hire a porter to assist you during tracking, and these are readily available at the park headquarters. The time allowed to spend with gorillas is 1 hour once you have found them.
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Day 10: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo
After breakfast at your Bwindi lodge, you'll check out and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest savannah national park in Uganda. You will reach the park in the afternoon for lunch, then relax as you prepare for an evening game drive.
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Day 11: Lake Mburo walk and Equator to Entebbe
Entebbe
After your morning breakfast, you will start a guided nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park as early as 7 am with the guidance of an armed game ranger. You will see many animals such as Giraffes, zebras, impalas, among others.
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Day 12: Shoebill at Mabamba and airport transfer
Mabamba Swamp
After your morning breakfast, you will start a guided birding in Mabamba swamp in search for a shoebill.
Your group
Price for your group
2 travellers: $5,900 each, $11,800 in total.
| Travellers | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5,900 | $5,900 |
| 2 | $5,900 | $11,800 |
| 3 | $5,900 | $17,700 |
| 4 | $5,900 | $23,600 |
| 5 | $5,900 | $29,500 |
| 6 | $5,900 | $35,400 |
| 7 | $5,900 | $41,300 |
| 8 | $5,900 | $47,200 |
| 9 | $5,900 | $53,100 |
| 10 | $5,900 | $59,000 |
Prices are in US dollars per person, from the group rates listed with this trip. No group discount is listed, so the price per person is the same for every group size.
The detail
What is included
Included
- Gorilla and chimps trekking permits
- Ground transport per private 4WD safari vehicle
- English speaking Verdoro driver guide
- Accommodation in places mentioned in the itinerary, based on a twin/double room
- Meals as described in the itinerary
- Mineral water in the safari vehicle
- Entrance fees and ranger fees for national parks
- Activities and excursions mentioned in the program
Not included
- International flight
- Visa
- Cost for Golfing at the different places
- Optional activities
- Meals and drinks not mentioned above
- Items of personal nature
- Tips
- Transport to and from the meeting point if you do not use the included transfers
Nights and arrival
Where you stay and how you get there
Where you stay
Accommodation is in the places mentioned in the itinerary, based on a twin or double room, from the Entebbe arrival hotel through Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Lake Mburo National Park.
Getting there
Upon arrival, you shall be welcomed by our Verdoro guide at Entebbe International Airport, from where you will transfer to your booked accommodation for the night.
On the final morning you go for guided birding in Mabamba swamp in search for a shoebill, then you are transferred to Entebbe International Airport. Share outbound flight times.
Good questions
Questions about this safari
What is included in the package price?
Gorilla and chimps trekking permits, ground transport in a private 4WD, an English speaking driver guide, twin or double rooms, meals as described, mineral water, park and ranger fees, and the listed activities sit in this group-tour price.
What is not included?
International flights, visas, golfing, optional activities, meals and drinks not mentioned, items of a personal nature, and tips sit outside the bundle.
How does chimpanzee trekking work?
You report to the park headquarters at 7:30 am for a briefing, then trek in search of chimpanzees and spend one hour observing their behaviour, with other primates in the same forest. You are awarded a chimpanzee tracking certificate after the trek.
What is golden monkey trekking like?
After breakfast you proceed to the visitor's center in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at Ntebeko for a briefing on the dos and don'ts while with the golden monkeys, then head inside the forest to search for them.
How does gorilla trekking work on this safari?
You report to the park headquarters at 7:30 am for a briefing, carrying packed lunch and drinking water because you may stay in the forest until the afternoon. Gorilla trekking is physically demanding, and you may hire a porter at headquarters.
Do we look for the shoebill?
On the final morning you go for guided birding in Mabamba swamp in search for a shoebill, then you are transferred to Entebbe International Airport.
How fit should I be?
Mountain gorilla trekking is for travellers aged 15 and over and is physically demanding. Chimpanzee and golden monkey treks are also on foot after park briefings. Rhino tracking at Ziwa is a guided walk.
Where do we stay?
Night one is your booked hotel after the Entebbe welcome. Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Mgahinga, Bwindi, and Lake Mburo nights use the lodges on the itinerary, with a Batwa evening at Bwindi after gorilla tracking.
Are meals included?
Meals are as described in the itinerary, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner on safari days, plus mineral water in the safari vehicle.
What should I pack?
Pack waterproofs, sturdy closed shoes, and a daypack for rhino, chimpanzee, golden monkey, and gorilla trekking, plus neutral safari layers for savanna drives.
Read before you book
Guides for this safari
- How a gorilla trek works Fitness, trek times, what to bring, and why a sighting is never guaranteed.
- Every gorilla trekking safari compared Lengths, styles and prices side by side.
- Chimpanzee trekking safaris Every trip that tracks chimpanzees.
- Chimpanzee habituation in Kibale and Budongo How the longer habituation experience differs from an ordinary trek.
- Birding safaris in Uganda From the Mabamba shoebill swamp to Lake Mburo.
- What a Uganda safari costs Every Uganda trip priced, and what the price covers.
More answers are on our safari questions page and in what guests say. We also arrange flights, hotels and insurance.
How payment works: the balance is due one month before your safari, a reservation made within 45 days of arrival is paid in full when it is confirmed, and a card payment carries a 3.9% service charge. The full wording is in our terms and conditions.
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